"C'è un solo modo di vedere le cose finché qualcuno non ci mostra come guardare con altri occhi" – "There is only one way to see things, until someone shows us how to look at them with different eyes" (Picasso) – "人观察事物的方式只有一种，除非有人让我们学会怎样以不同的眼光看世界" (毕加索)

Arriving in Fatima and praying at the chapel of the apparitions, Pope Francis returned to the popular sanctuary for the blessing of the candles and the rosary recital, according to the official Vatican program.

The Pope’s pilgrimage takes place on the occasion of the centenary of Virgin’s apparitions to the three shepherds – the Blessed Jacinta and Francisco, who have been canonized and sister Lucia, the last visionary of Fatima disappeared in 2005 at 97 years. As soon as he arrived in the sanctuary, the pontiff stopped silently and prayed in front of the little and beloved statue of Our Lady in the chapel of the sanctuary that every year welcomes millions of pilgrims from all over the world. That same place where in that distant May 13, 1917 the Virgin appeared to three simple children, which is now crowded with an immense crowd of pilgrims.

The Pope then presided the rite of candlelight with the choir’s chant. The clearing of the shrine is full of pilgrims, who are still arriving in the evening. “If we want to be Christians we must be Marian,” says Pope Francis at the beginning of his greeting. According to Pope Francis, we must recognize the providential bond that unites Our Lady with Jesus and opens the way that leads us to Him. When we recite the rosary in this blessed place and in every other place, “the Gospel resumes its course in everybody’s life , in families and in all world, “continues the Pope. Pope Francis invites us to be pilgrims with Mary,” teacher of spiritual life”, the first who followed Christ along the narrow path of the cross, giving us the example.

As the Pope reminds us from the beginning of his pontificate it is important to “give mercy to judgment”. God’s mercy does not deny justice because Jesus took our sins on himself, paying for us on the cross. With the faith that unites us to the cross of Christ we are free from our sins. Let us therefore leave all forms of fear because “it does not belong to the loved”. Pope Francis reminds us once again, “God always pardons, forgive everything.” Taken by the hand of the Virgin Mother and under her gaze we can sing with joy “the mercies of the Lord” and each of us can rejoice in the Lord, for the mercy he has had toward all saints and the whole people and that also came to me.

In the light of the candles just blessed by the Pope a silent crowd recites the Holy Rosary, after which the Mass will be celebrated presided by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.

The Pope will celebrated the Mass during which Jacinta and Francisco will be proclaimed saints.

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The plane with the pope left Rome and arrived in Fatima. This is the 19th apostolic journey of Pope Francis outside Italy. “I ask everyone to join me as pilgrims of hope and peace, and your hands in prayer continue to support me.” In a message addressed to the President of the Italian Republic, he wrote: “As I left Italy to go to Portugal for the centenary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Fatima, iI am happy to address to you, Mr. President, my deferential greeting and, while I am going to meet pilgrims and especially sick people from all over the world that are going to that Marian sanctuary to find light and hope, I invoke the Lord’s blessing over the entire Italian nation, especially on those who suffer in body and spirit. “

Receiving a few days ago the Pontifical Portuguese College Pope Francis has explained the deep motive of his pilgrimage: “I will bring a wish of peace and hope to the world“.

“Our Lady of Fatima gave pastors a message against the tide – said Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin. We were in war time, in 1917, the prevalent thinking was hate, hostility and conflict; resumed as ‘the useless blunder’ by Benedict XV. Our Lady instead speaks of love and forgiveness, of the ability to sacrifice oneself and to offer as gift for others. “

From the military base where he landed, the Pope will move by helicopter to the stadium of Fatima and then with the popemobile will reach the Marian Shrine where the major events will happen, culminating with the canonization of the two shepherds Francesco and Jacinta Marto. They are first children to become Saints without having suffered martyrdom. Tonight he will visit the Appearance’s Chapel, and after the vespers, we will do the blessing of the candles and the recitation of the Rosary. We too will be spiritually present in Fatima.

In the church of Saint Joseph protector of the carpenters at the Roman Forum, there is also a chapel in honour of “Our Lady of Fatima” (see photo).

The story of this devotion in the Roman Forum is singular. At the end of the 1950s, Brother Gino Burresi created a Marian movement of prayers devoted to the small statue of Our Lady of Fatima. The sincere prayers of the many faithful were granted many graces from the Virgin and various miracles, including one for a child, daughter of a family friend of Pope Pius XII. The Pontiff wished to see this image, and he favored his veneration and wanted it to remain at the church of Saint Joseph’s carpenters. The Chapel is very simple and the silence inspires a deep prayer of conversion. Along with St. Joseph, the presence of Mary of Fatima helps to rediscover the family dimension of faith and the desire for peace.

Today, we will join the prayer that Pope Francis will make in Fatima for the entire humanity. Let us ask for the grace to love the Church with the same maternal love of Mary that illuminates the wonderful secret of the human life, the faith that reconciles. May the Centenary of the Appearances of Our Lady of Fatima give hope to everyone.